Archive | September, 2015

New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) Russia today conveyed to India that it is starting air and rocket attacks on terrorists locations in Syria following a request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for military assistance in fighting against ISIS and other terrorist groups.

The Russian Embassy here officially informed the External Affairs Ministry that in accordance with the request of the Syrian President for providing military assistance in fighting against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria, Russia begins air and rocket attacks on terrorist locations on all territory of the Syria today, a release from the embassy said.

The release from the embassy came as Russian President Vladimir Putin today won permission from parliament to carry out air strikes in Syria, in what would be Russia’s first engagement in a distant war operation since the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Mumbai, Sep 30 (PTI) Families of the victims of the 2006 serial train blasts here that killed 189 people today hailed as a “correct punishment” the death penalty awarded to five of the 12 convicts and life sentence to the remaining, observing that justice has been delayed but not denied.

For the family of Parag Sawant, who had become one of the enduring images of the carnage and who died recently after battling for life in a hospital for nine years, justice though will be served only after the convicts awarded capital punishment are hanged.

The family members of the 189 people who lost their lives and the 829 injured in seven powerful blasts that ripped local suburban trains between Matunga and Mira Road on the Western line on July 11, 2006, while welcoming the decision of the special court said the trial should have been expedited.

The trial was concluded by a special MCOCA court nine years after the blasts.

“Justice will be done only after the convicts are hanged to death. We have lost our son. What happened to us should not happen to anyone else in future. A strong message has to be sent by our judicial system that such acts will not be dealt with lightly,” Parag’s father Jayprakash said.

Parag died in July this year becoming the 189th victim.

He is survived by his parents, wife, a minor daughter and a brother.

Parag, then 27 and newly married, had bought a first- class train pass for the first time on July 1, 2006, after getting promoted as assistant manager at a private firm.

Ten days later, the blast took place in the first-class compartment of a Virar-bound train near Borivali, severely injuring several commuters, including Parag.

Dahisar resident Ashok Waghela, a chartered accountant, rarely travelled by local train once he started his consultancy firm in Borivali. But on July 11, 2006, he went to meet a client in South Mumbai and fell victim to one of the blasts.

His wife Yogita was left to fend for herself and her two school-going children.

“The court has given a correct punishment. They (convicts) took so many lives in a matter of a few minutes, but it took nine years to prove them guilty,” she said.

Her son and daughter are pursuing CA, while she takes up projects like selling garments and decorations during festivals like Navratri to support her family.

Kathmandu, Sept 29 (PTI) With Indo-Nepal ties witnessing unease after the promulgation of the new Constitution here, India today hoped that “difficult days” would not affect their friendship as it welcomed the Nepal government’s move to hold talks with agitating groups.

“We welcome the recent steps taken by the government of Nepal to hold dialogue with the agitating groups to end the existing political crisis in a peaceful manner,” Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said.

He said India wants stability in Nepal and it was not against the new Constitution.

“We see the Constitution as the culmination of violence and end of very brutal insurgency Nepal had gone through.

Nepal has come out of a very difficult situation and we don’t want that it return to another difficult situation,” Rae said during an interaction programme here.

“Nepal-India friendship is very old, solid and very much stable, and it doesn’t depend on any specific issue or incident,” he said, adding “I am confident even after these difficult days our friendship will be stronger.”

On his part, Nepal’s Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyaya hoped that there would be ease in supply of essential commodities from India soon as efforts are being made at diplomatic and political level in this regard.

Asking people from both countries to observe tolerance and have a positive attitude towards dealing with the issue, the Nepalese envoy said, “India has always played an important role during the hardship faced by Nepal in the past which was evident during the recent earthquakes.

“Let’s not speak irresponsible things and develop negative attitude towards each other at this sensitive time which might damage the centuries old friendly relations.”

“We should maintain peace, stability and move towards economic prosperity and I hope India will extend support to our endeavour as a peaceful, stable and prosperous Nepal will also be in the interest of India,” he said.

Rae also cautioned that if Nepal does not take every one along while drafting the Constitution then it will be sowing the seeds of future conflict as well as opening the door of instability that will also affect India.

“Therefore, the only solution to the current problem is talk,” the Indian Ambassador added.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s major parties yesterday started talks with the agitating Madhesi parties to find a solution to the Terai problem through peaceful means. .

New York, Sep 29 (PTI) Asking nations to shun negativism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a strong pitch for a positive agenda to tackle climate change in his talks with US President Barack Obama who said India’s leadership at the Paris conference will set the tone for decades to come.

“President and I share an uncompromising commitment on climate change, without affecting our ability to meet the development aspirations of humanity. We have both set ambitious national agendas,” Modi said after his hour-long talks with Obama the focus of which was on climate change.

During the talks yesterday, Modi underlined the need for concrete outcomes at the upcoming global conference on climate change in Paris starting November.

Briefing reporters later on Modi’s meeting with Obama, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “As far as the substantive issue of climate change is concerned, the PM made it very clear that the current climate of negativism was not a useful factor as we approach COP21 in Paris.”

“He (Modi) said that rather than just putting pressure, piling pressure…it would have been far more better if we had a positive agenda which enabled countries to go in for more sustainable paths of development by providing finance and the requisite technology,” Swarup said.

In a brief statement after the talks, Obama stated that much of his discussion with Prime Minister Modi was focussed on the upcoming climate conference.

“We are encouraged by the aggressive nature of Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to clean energy…I think India’s leadership in the upcoming conference will set the tone not just for today but for decades to come,” Obama said.

Talking about India’s aggressive push for the cause of climate change, Modi said, “Our measures include not just a plan to add 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022, but a development strategy that will enable us to transition to a more sustainable energy mix.”

“This is an exercise we are undertaking in the spirit of our culture and tradition, but also because of our commitment to the future of this planet,” he said.

Modi also thanked Obama for the positive response to his call for a global public partnership for developing affordable clean energy sources that will enable faster adoption of clean energy across the world.

“We should work together to advance that goal. And, it is equally important to develop mechanisms to ensure that the affordable also become accessible to those who need it the most,” Modi said.

“We look forward to comprehensive and concrete outcome in Paris with a positive agenda on combating climate change, which also focuses on access to finance and technology for the developing world, especially the poor countries and small island states,” he said.

New Delhi, Sep 28 (PTI) Controversial AAP MLA Somnath Bharti failed to get relief from the Supreme Court which directed him to surrender before the police today in connection with the domestic violence and attempt to murder case filed against him by his wife.

“We want him to surrender before appropriate jurisdiction of the police by this evening. We don’t intend to pass any further order,” a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy said while posting the matter for hearing on Thursday.

The bench rejected the plea of his counsel and senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam that Bharti, who is absconding from law, be given time till tomorrow to surrender.

“No, we will not give time. If you want your matter to come on Thursday, you have to surrender today itself,” the bench said, while rejecting a further request that he be given time till 7 pm to surrender.

Subramaniam submitted that the whole incident was an outcome of the matrimonial dispute in which, not only the couple, but their two children were also sufferers. The court should keep this in mind while hearing Bharti’s appeal against the rejection of his anticipatory bail by the trial court and the Delhi High Court, he contended.

However, the bench said it was not concerned with the issue at this stage and asked how should Bharti have conducted himself as a responsible citizen after dismissal of his plea before trial court and the High Court.

“Not to say you have lost before two courts (trial court and High Court). You went for anticipatory bail before the trial court, you did not succeed. You went for anticipatory bail before the High Court, you did not succeed. What is your duty as a responsible citizen,” the bench asked.

“First you surrender, then we will see whether the matter should be referred to mediation centre. We want family dispute to be sorted out but we can’t be saying that we will be protecting an absconder.

“We will find out from his wife whether she is ready to sit for mediation. We want families to live together. We don’t want disruption in family life,” the bench said, while making it clear it will not go into the merits of the matter unless Bharti surrenders. .

San Jose, Sep 28 (PTI) Lamenting that the UN has been unable to define terrorism in 70 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said if it takes so long in doing so, then how many years will be required to deal with the menace.

“We put pressure on the UN. The UN is celebrating its 70th anniversary but till now it has not been able to arrive at a definition for terrorism. If defining it takes so much time, then how many years will it take to to tackle terrorism,” Modi said in his speech at the SAP Centre here.

It is the UN’s responsibility to spell out clearly who it considers a terrorist so that the international community can chart out its path to usher in peace, he said.

“At a time when we are observing the 70th anniversary of the UN, it is the world body’s responsibility to come out in clear terms who it considers a terrorist and who is on the side of humanity. Once it has to be made clear so that the world can decide which path it should follow and only then peace will prevail,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said he was hopeful that the UN will not be able to further delay a decision on such a serious issue.

“Humanist forces in the world will have to put pressure so that it is decided in black and white what is terrorism.

Since there is no definition, talk about good terrorism and bad terrorism is going on. We cannot protect humanity with this good and bad terrorism,” Modi said, adding, “terrorism is terrorism”.

Observing that India has been a victim of terrorism for the past 40 years, Modi said the West and many other countries woke up to the menace of terrorism only after they faced bomb blasts or terror attacks.

“We cannot let 21st century to be stained with terrorism,” Modi said, adding, “the world has to stand united in tackling terrorism.”

Noting that India is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautam Buddha who preached peace and non-violence to the world, he said, “the world has to realise that terrorism can hit anyone at anyplace, and it is the world’s responsibility to recognise it and unite against terrorism.”

Indian diaspora and several top American lawmakers were present on the occasion.

Lucknow, Sep 27 (PTI) Terrorism is a challenge but the country will achieve victory over it, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted today even as he dismissed the fears about ISIS terror outfit spreading its reach to India.

“As far as terrorism is concerned, it is a challenge, but India will get victory over it,” he told reporters here on the sidelines of an event.

Asked about the apprehension about the dreaded Islamic State terror outfit was expanding in several states of India, the Home Minister said, “Do not worry about it, there is nothing like this.”

A reporter said that Pakistan has reportedly claimed that India was not ready for talks, to which Singh said, “Let them level allegations. It has no meaning.”

The senior minister and BJP leader did not comment when referred to party MP RK Singh’s allegation that the party was giving tickets to candidates with criminal antecedents for Bihar elections.

Earlier, in his speech at the event, Singh said the Narendra Modi government was making efforts to address social concerns and claimed that it was the first time in the country’s history that any government at the centre was doing so.

“Generally, the work of any government is related to economic and strategic issues. But for the first time, in the history of the country, a government has come at the Centre which is fulfilling social concerns as well,” he said.

Referring to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, Singh said, “Such a campaign by the government and efforts being made to motivate people is not witnessed very frequently.”

He added that with Modi having taken up the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ drive, the goal is now to balance the gender ratio to make the country prosperous.

“It is an irony that the gender ratio is not balanced in India. In all countries that are considered prosperous, gender ratio is balanced. A country and society where gender ratio is unbalanced can never prosper,” he said.

Singh said that while a man could be the patron of a single person, a woman is the protector of an entire family.

“Indian women have done wonders internationally. They are CEOs of global companies. Kalpana Chawla reached space. They are playing an active, effective and fruitful role in paramilitary forces and police,” he said.

In recently declared UPSC examination results, girls were in top three, Singh said.

San Jose, Sep 28 (PTI) In a veiled attack on the corruption during UPA regime and a barb at the Congress President’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today deprecated the culture of graft in the country and said he has provided graft-free governance.

He said corruption during the previous government’s time had triggered anger among people.

“In our country it doesn’t take much for allegations to come up against politicians… Someone made 50 crores, someone’s son made 250 crores, (someone’s) daughter made 500 crores, (someone’s) damaad (son-in-law) made 1000 crores…” he said addressing the Indian community at the packed SAP Centre in San Jose, California.

Switching on to a question answer mode, he asked the audience “Is the country not disappointed?”

The people replied “yes”.

“Is there not anger against corruption,” he asked.

“Yes,” people shouted.

Modi then asked, “I am standing before you. Tell me if there is any allegation against me.”

“No,” people shouted. He then told the crowd that he is giving every minute of his life in the service of the nation and he would live and die for the country.

While Modi’s reference to sons and daughters of politicians being corrupt is seen as a reference to culture of corruption in the country, the reference to son-in-law is seen as a barb at alleged land deals entered into by Vadra with the some state governments.

New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) A Delhi court will hear on September 30 the arguments on AAP leader Somnath Bharti’s plea seeking lodging of an FIR against police officials for “implicating” him in a case of alleged molestation of some African women during his purported midnight raid last year.

The matter, which was listed before Additional Sessions Judge Bhupesh Kumar, could not be heard today as the judge was on leave.

Bharti has filed two revision pleas before a sessions court against the dismissal of his applications by a magisterial court seeking lodging of FIR against the police personnel and seeking further probe in the case.

On November 10, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had dismissed Bharti’s plea for lodging of an FIR against unnamed police personnel for allegedly implicating him in the case saying, “without sanction of central or state government, no cognizance of offence can be taken.”

It had said that “any allegation of unfair or biased investigation cannot be separated from the discharge of official duty by IO. Therefore, protection of public servants under section 197 of CrPC would come into play.”

In a recent development, Delhi Government on September 24 sanctioned Bharti’s prosecution for alleged involvement in the raid in Khirki Extension area in January, 2014 when he was the Law Minister in the AAP Government.

Bharti, in his plea for probe moved under section 173(8) of CrPC, has said that police has allegedly suppressed crucial facts, statements of several witnesses and a video recording, which were not taken into account when the charge sheet against him was filed.

Delhi Police had filed a final report against Bharti and 17 other accused and chargesheeted them for various offences under the IPC, including sections 354 (outraging women’s modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 147 (rioting).

The police had arrayed 41 persons as prosecution witnesses in the case, including nine Ugandan women who were allegedly beaten up and molested by the mob led by Bharti on the intervening night of January 15-16 last year.

The FIR was lodged on January 19 last year on the court’s direction after an Ugandan woman had approached it seeking a direction to the police to file a criminal case against unnamed persons.

New York, Sep 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be addressing more than 18,500 Indian-Americans in the Silicon Valley tomorrow, but during his three nights of stay here he is believed to have met at least a few hundreds of them, if the steady stream of visitors waiting in the hotel lobby and pictures posted on the social media is any indication.

In fact, he would have met at least a hundred people and posed for picture on the first night itself when he arrived after a long flight from Delhi after a short stopover in Dublin, Ireland.

As several hundred people waited outside the hotel raising slogans amidst beating of drums, Modi came out of his secret service driven black SUV to meet his supporters.

Once inside the Waldrof Astoria, a few dozen eminent Indian-Americans were waiting for inside the lobby. As he personally recognised them, he called them to his meeting room. He met the group in three batches.

One of them was with those who were involved in organising a successful reception for him last September at the Madison Square Garden, which was attended by a record 20,000 people.

Modi, who before becoming Gujarat Chief Minister had extensively travelled across the US, appears to know many of them personally and enquired about their family members joking with them occasionally.

He also met another group of Indian Americans the same night to take inputs from them on various policy issues related to India US relationship. One of the community leaders said on condition of anonymity that this was about defence.

On Wednesday night he also met Aseem Chhabra of Hindu American Foundation, who presented Modi with a welcome letter signed by over 200 leading academics in engineering, liberal arts, and the sciences. “Kem chho Aseembhai?” asked the Prime Minister in Gujarati, seeking his well-being.

In all these meetings, Modi posed for photographs with each one of them. Both on Thursday and Friday there was a steady stream of visitors waiting for him to meet in between his various official engagement. Some time, people waited for hours to meet him, very few went disappointed.

For instance on Thursday evening soon after his dinner with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, which was the last official engagement of the day-long hectic events, Modi was energetic enough to meet a group of over 50 members of the Overseas Friends of BJP-USA led by its president Chandrakant Patel. .